IRCC held its second Express Entry draw this week on January 21.
Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 4,626 permanent residence invitations to candidates of the Canadian Experience Class. The Comprehensive Ranking Score (CRS) cut-off requirement was 454
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Today’s CRS cut-off score was seven points lower than the previous CEC-specific draw held on January 7, which had a CRS cut-off score of 461.
As identified under its new 2021-2023 Immigration Levels Plan, IRCC is seeking to welcome some 110,000 Express Entry immigrants per year. Canada came close to this mark last year, when it had a record-breaking year for Express Entry, issuing a total of 107,350 permanent residence invitations. The Canadian government continues to stress that welcoming high levels of skilled immigrants during and after the COVID-19 pandemic will remain vital to supporting a strong economy.
Canada held its third Express Entry immigration draw of 2021 on January 20.
Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) invited 374 Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates with a minimum score of 741. This cut-off score means that candidates only needed to obtain 141 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points for their human capital characteristics. The other 600 points they obtained were by securing a provincial nomination.
Express Entry is the main way Canada welcomes skilled workers who want to obtain Canadian permanent residence. Under the 2021-2023 Immigration Levels Plan, Canada aims to welcome an average of 110,000 immigrants under Express Entry per year. IRCC uses Express Entry to manage skilled worker applications for the following three programs: Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, and Canadian Experience Class.
The province of Ontario has issued 484 invitations to Express Entry candidates through two provincial immigration streams in the first draw of the year.
These two enhanced Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) are aligned with the Express Entry system. Candidates who received an NOI in this draw had to have Express Entry profiles that were created between January 13, 2020, and January 13, 2021.
The Skilled Trades Stream allows the OINP to search the Express Entry pool for candidates currently living in Ontario who have a minimum of one-year full-time work experience, or the equivalent in part-time work, in a skilled trade listed in Minor Group 633 or Major Group 72, 73, or 82 under Canada’s National Occupational Classification (NOC).
Saskatchewan held a new draw on January 7, inviting immigration candidates to apply for a provincial nomination for Canadian permanent residence.
The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) invited candidates from the International Skilled Worker category through two subcategories: Express Entry, and Occupations In-Demand. A total of 385 invitations were sent out to immigration candidates who had work experience in select occupations. A total of 148 were invited through the Express Entry sub-category, and 237 invitations went to Occupations In-Demand candidates.
In order to be invited in this draw, candidates from both sub-categories needed to have submitted Expression of Interest (EOI) profiles with the SINP. Regardless of the category, invited candidates needed an EOI score of at least 71 in order to be invited. This is the provincial requirement, not the Comprehensive Ranking System cutoff. Invited candidates all had Educational Credential Assessments.
Canada held another Express Entry draw on January 7, the second invitation round held in two days.
Results of the draw were released today, January 8, 2021.
Two days ago, Canada kicked off the new year issuing invitations to Express Entry candidates who have provincial nominations.
A total of 250 candidates were invited by Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in the January 6 draw and they needed a minimum score of 813.
Candidates who have received nominations from an Express Entry-aligned Provincial Nominee Program (PNPs) automatically get 600 points added to their overall score, which is why the score requirement is relatively high compared to other rounds of invitation.